FtMyers: Daniel Santana vs Levi Michaels

[greengoblinrulz]

Many people have given Levi the excuse of being in a lg too high for his age (21)....but Santana is 3 months younger than Michael. Some have said its Levi's first yr of pro ball vs Santana's 5th (4th in US & able to be Rule Vd this winter).

Both reasons have some validity to em, but I think it should also be a reason to be higher on Santana.

Santana 93gms 391AB .284/.322/.399 54runs 14doubles 8triples 5hr 45rbi 63k 20bb 13/23sb

Michael 94gms 349AB .241/.333/.309 44runs 10doubles 4triples 2hr 30rbi 68k 44bb 4/4sb

 

Levi has been better since June 1 by far

48gms 178AB .275/.364/.343 25runs 8doubles 2triples 16rbi 30k 20bb 3/3sb

 

Santana has been a lil more consistent posting .750 OPS in 3 of 4 months (june was off month)

 

Defensively

Santana 8e in 32gm @ 2B(.947 FP 4.47 RF)....16e in 57gm @ SS(.934 FP 3.95 RF) 2gms in CF also

Michael 4e in 49gm @ 2B (.979 FP 4.44 RF).....8e in 51gm @ SS (.966 FP 4.39 RF)

[diehardtwinsfan]

Are you making a case for grading Santana higher?

 

this was Levi's first taste of pro-ball, which also includes dealing with things like using a wooden bat for the first time. The fact that he's been better since June could be that he's more used to it, or simply SSS... who knows. This far down, I'm not really concerned about who is higher than who on the depth chart, though Santana is going to be a 40 man roster decision soon... Levi is not.

[Badsmerf]

Looking at those stats its hard to argue AGAINST Levi. I like Santana too, but Levi is a better fielder, hits with more power and walks. If Santana had better plate discipline and was better at stealing bases, he would be a much better player. As it is, he doesn't walk enough or hit with enough power to be anything but a utility MI. It could always develop though...

[Brock Beauchamp]

Michael is the better prospect by a longshot. He is the same age, is hitting better, and took almost a year away from the sport.

[Rosterman]

At that level, you don't need to worry about 40-man decisions so much, especially position players. Which is why the Twins will keep him there rather than advance to New Britain. Next year, yes...he becomes a decision.

[greengoblinrulz]

diehard: not makin a case for anyone....just throwing out the numbers for a discussion, nothing more

 

Badsmerf: where do you find out of any of those numbers that Levi hits with more power....think Santana is far above him there

 

Pig: not the greatest Michael fan myself, do you think its that big a difference...Michael was only off from mid/late June..not a full yr

 

Rosterman: Twins have a history of protecting High A guys on their way to New Brit, so I dont think its out of line to suggest Santana could be on the 40 man this winter. Team is shaky in highball middle infielders also

 

Both have certain things that make em rate better than the other IMO....

Michaels is mostly bein a #1 pick, better D, plate discipline....

Santana is hitting far more consitently, more XB power, more speed (never been a great basestealer tho)

Both mid teen type prospects IMO

[greengoblinrulz]

Now that the season is done

Daniel finished w/121gms 507ABs .286/.329/.410/ 70runs 21doubles 9triples 8HR 60rbi 77k 29bb 17/28sb's

18E's .949 FPct in 85gms at SS....8E's .947FPct in 32gms @ SS

4 of 5 months had a BAve of over .288 and sluggin over .411 (June for both) & had 22 of his walks in 2nd half (67gms)

also .351/.385/.505 w/RISP.......330/.366/.472 with runners on

.271/.321/.425 vs lefties (181ABs) .294/.333/.402 vs righties (326ABs)

Good numbers all around & should easily be in New Brit next year

 

Michael finished 117gms 431ABs .246/.339/.311 58runs 14doubles 4triples 2HR 38rbi 82k 56bb 6/6sb's

After June 1st...... 71gms 260AB .273/.368/.335 39runs 12doubles 2triples 0Hr 24rbi 44k 32bb 5/5sb's

9E's .962FPct in 53gms @ SS......7E's .975FPct in 64gms @ 2B

.323/.416/.414 w/RISP (99ABs)...293/.368/.356 with runners on (188ABs)

.315/.405/.392 vs lefties (143ABs).....212/.306/.271 vs righties (288ABs)

last 3 months probably good enough for a New Brit promotion (April decent also)....but a lil disappointing for a #1 pick

[Shane Wahl]

I don't think it is altogether a disappointing year for Michael. I would say that for a 1st round pick of the Twins to be in AA in 2013, just one full season after beginning his pro career is actually something to note.

 

I actually believe that the appropriate thing to take away from this comparison is that Danny Santana started to make strides this season.

[PseudoSABR]

Hard not to like Michael's walk rate. If he can play defense and even hit just a little, he'd be a god send compared to what they've had for what seems like a decade. Let's give the guy more than one season to develop his bat.

[Jim H]

the knock on Santana has always been consistency both in the field and at the plate. Seeing strides in those areas or at least at the plate, is encouraging. I don't know if there is any need to protect him on the 40 man roster. I suspect that depends on exactly how good he is defensively. If he can be elite at shortstop defensively, then they will protect him. Otherwise he sounds a bit like a Casilla. That would mean that there is some decision to be made there.

 

I don't know quite what to think of Michael. It sounds like he is solid defensively, maybe more suited to 2nd than short. Even with his improved second half numbers, he certainly didn't dominate at High A. Seeing improvement is important, and he showed some throughout the year, at least statwise. So, he likely begins next year at AA. I think though that he is not the top middle infield talent in the farm system and needs to improve to be more than a utility man.

[Badsmerf]

Santana had 800 OPS in August. I worry about his fielding a little, and his base stealing, but he looks like he can hit. Michael had an average end to the year. He walks a decent amount, but the power numbers just aren't there. I assumed he's start hitting for some more power after June, but that was about all he had. He has the OBP and fielding going for him, but other than that he didn't show much. Sanatana on the other hand showed improvement in many areas of his game. His offense improved across the board from last year and errors have decreased. Has to be considered a positive year for Santana.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm much higher on Santana than Michael. Maybe it's because I've seen him play. I was never high on Michael, but I'm also willing to give him a mulligan on this season, to some degree... I have always been a little high on Santana though.

[greengoblinrulz]

Gotta be nice to see a 400+ Slgg in 4 of 5 months in heavy pitchers lg. New Brit still leans to a pitchers lg but its much more even.

Arcia/Romero/Hicks/Pinto(lesser extent due to gms) have improved power numbers leaving Ft Myers

Interesting to see how their power numbers are next yr in AA

[drjim]

I'm always a little hesitant to scout from and draw any type of grand conclusions simpky from a stat line. I think there is much to like about both players but Michael has to be considered the better prospect. I will be curious how BA ranks them this offseason.

[Badsmerf]

I'm always a little hesitant to scout from and draw any type of grand conclusions simpky from a stat line. I think there is much to like about both players but Michael has to be considered the better prospect. I will be curious how BA ranks them this offseason.

Why do you think that? They are the same age and Santana clearly outperformed him in an entire year's worth of playing time.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm always a little hesitant to scout from and draw any type of grand conclusions simpky from a stat line. I think there is much to like about both players but Michael has to be considered the better prospect. I will be curious how BA ranks them this offseason.

 

BA will rank Michael higher because he's a 1st round pick.

[Shane Wahl]

I am likely going to put them pretty damn close to each other, with both maybe in the low 20s (I could be wrong . . . I have a sense that maybe some pitchers are going to be moving significantly up my list . . . which is nice). Michael had a higher OBP even though he hit significantly less. I do NOT want to push an Aaron Hicks comparison, but plate discipline is a good skill to have when you are 21. If Michael starts hitting .260 or .270, then I will be higher on him than Santana (unless he improves his plate discipline).

 

I guess I need more information on Santana defensively. I guess I thought he was better defensively?

[beckmt]

Cannot tell range from the fielding numbers. I like the plate disipline however, that cannot be easliy taught. Should see both in New Britian next year and get a better read from that.

[clutterheart]

Should see both in New Britian next year and get a better read from that.

 

Michael has done nothing to be promoted to AA. If he gets promoted it will be only because of the bonus money the team threw at him. Keep him at FM next year. Grimes had a poor offensive year so Beloit does not have an obvious SS bearing down on him. So Michael has one more year to prove he can play. But if AJ Peterson gets promoted I would expect him to out play Michael.

[Shane Wahl]

Should see both in New Britian next year and get a better read from that.

 

Michael has done nothing to be promoted to AA. If he gets promoted it will be only because of the bonus money the team threw at him. Keep him at FM next year. Grimes had a poor offensive year so Beloit does not have an obvious SS bearing down on him. So Michael has one more year to prove he can play. But if AJ Peterson gets promoted I would expect him to out play Michael.

 

Again, plate discipline is a key skill. His OBP was .339. He also played in a pitchers' league in his first year of pro ball. Promoting him also means Eddie Rosario's second base path is clearly open (which I think is necessary).

[drjim]

I'm always a little hesitant to scout from and draw any type of grand conclusions simpky from a stat line. I think there is much to like about both players but Michael has to be considered the better prospect. I will be curious how BA ranks them this offseason.

 

BA will rank Michael higher because he's a 1st round pick.

 

That combined with the information they are fed from the Twins organization and from other coaches in the league. BA is not going to do rankings solely on the status of the player when they entered the system.

[drjim]

I'm always a little hesitant to scout from and draw any type of grand conclusions simpky from a stat line. I think there is much to like about both players but Michael has to be considered the better prospect. I will be curious how BA ranks them this offseason.

Why do you think that? They are the same age and Santana clearly outperformed him in an entire year's worth of playing time.

 

From the information that I have gathered from other sources, including tools and defensive reports. I have not seen either play and I am hesitant to judge solely on stat lines. Overall I am willing to give Michael more than one season before I jump to any significant conclusion on him, I still think he has a legit shot at being an everyday player.

[Twins Twerp]

According to reputable and always spot on bleacherreport.com, Michael is a bust. Put a fork in him, he's done.